Frictional resistance test apparatus



March 14, 1944. F, 4M/.FT ETAL- 2,344,331 l -FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE TEST APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l spffo (awr/Pa March 14, 1944- J. F. swlFT ETAAL FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE TEST APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1941 3 .Shee'tS-Sheet 2 March 14, 1944. J, F. SWW ETAL 2,344,331

FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE TEST APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet '5 INVENTOR.

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mentes Mar. 14, 1944 John Frederick Swift and Raymond J. Miller, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Hydraulic Brake Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Californi Application August 22, 1941, Serial No. 407,992

4 Claims.

This invention relates to test apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for testing the frictional resistance imposed on a mass rotated in fluid.

Broadly the invention comprehends a test apparatus including means for rotating a mass in fluid and to measure the torque due to rotation of the mass, to measure the reaction torque, to indicate the speed of rotation of the mass, to measure the temperature of the iiuid due to viscous drag and agitation, and to give indications of these conditions at all speeds of rotation of the mass.

An object of the invention is to provide a test apparatus for measuring friction on an element rotated in uid.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a test apparatus for measuring frictionalresistance to rotation of various elements in fluids of various density.

Another object of the invention is to provide a test apparatus for measuring frictional resistance to rotation of anA element in fluids of various viscosity and at various speeds of rotation.

lOther objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings forming apart of this specification, and in Which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a testing apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the test unit;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the driving pulley and torque indicating means;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the pulley illustrating one of the sets of springs through which torque is transmitted from the pulley to the driving shaft;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the pulley and associated torque transmitting means illustrating the scale;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, mostly in section, of the test unit set up to test eilects of small clearances;

Fig. '7 is a similar view of the test unit set up to measure disc friction drag between a stationary reaction member and a rotating housing; and

Fig. 8 isa similar view of the testing unit set up to measure disc friction drag between a rotating reaction member and a stationary housing.

Referring to the drawings for more specific details of the invention, I0 represents a base, preferably heavy, so that vibrations may be reduced to the minimum. The base has suitably mounted thereon an electrical variable speed pulleys I4. The motor is connected to a suitable source of electrical supply and to a control I6 mounted on 'the base I0, and a frame I8 mounted on the base I0 supports a test unit indicated 4generally at 20. As shown, the frame has a sleeve or journal box 22 arranged in parallel relation to the base I0, and fitted in the ends of the journal box are tapered roller bearings 24 and 26.

A hollow spindle 28 supported on the bearings 24 and 26 for slight angular or limited rotative movement has one end thereof a ange 30 abutting the inner race of the bearing 26, and a retaining ring 32 threaded on the spindle adjacent its other end abuts the inner race of the bearing 24 and serves to retain the spindle against displacement. The ilange 30 has an axially disposed recess 34, and the wall defining this recess has concentrically disposed annular shoulders 36 and 38, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear, and the ilange 30 also has a peripheral shoulder 40.

A demountable case 42 for the reception of liquid is mounted on the iia'nge 30 of the spindle 2B. The case includes corresponding discs 44 and 46 having heavy rims 48 and ribs 50 serving to effectively resist distortion of the discs due to dynamic pressures of the agitated uid in the case. The discs are spaced apart by a heavy ring 52 having stout marginal anges 54 interlocked with and secured to the rims 48 of the discs as by bolts 56. The discs have concentrically disposed hubs 58 and 60. The hub 58 is tted on the shoulder 40 of the flange 30, and secured against displacement as by machine screws, and the hub 60 receives a closure plate 62 also secured against displacement as by machine screws.

The closure plate 62 has a concentrically disposed port 64 and a flexible tube 66 connected to l this port providing communication between the case 42 and a combined reservoir and expansion motor I2 having on its armature shaft a group of 55 tank 68. It is to be observed that the port 64 is axially disposed with relation to the case. This provides for control of pressure on the liquid at the axis vof rotation of the case, and such control is essential because the liquid in the case necessarily heats up and changes volume during a normal testing operation. The closure plate 62 also has an opening 'l0 receiving a thermocouple I2 extended into the case and connected as by leads 14 and I6 to a temperature gauge 'I8 suitably supported on the base. This provides adequate means for measuring the temperature of the liquid in the case at all times.

A torque arm 8u connects the case 42 to one end of a walking beam 82 pivoted on a fixed support 84, and the other end of the walking beam is connected to an indicating scale 88 suitably supported on the base I0. The scale 86 measures the reaction torque caused by friction oi' the fluid on the walls of the case.

A shaft 88 has on one end thereof a splined spindle 98 and a collar 82 adjacent the spindle. A bearing 84 is fitted on the shaft in abutting relation to the collar, and a retaining nut 86 threaded on the shaft clamps the inner race of the bearing to the collar. i 'I'he shaft 88 extends through the hollow spindle 28 and the bearing 94 thereon is received by the shoulder 38 in the recess 34 of the ange 30 on the hollow spindle, where it is held against displacement by a re` taining ring 98 fitted on the shoulder 38 and secured to the ilange 30 in abutting relation to the outer race of the bearing 84 and a suitable fluid seal is interposed between the retaining ring and the shaft. The spindle 80 on one end of the shaft 88 extends axially ofthe case 42, and the other end of the shaft 88 protrudes from the free end of the hollow spindle 28. An indicating tachometer |88 is suitably connected to the protruding end of the shaft for measuring speed of rotation of the shaft, and a stroboscope |02 is also connected to the shaft and synchronized therewith, the object of which will hereinafter appear.

The shaft 88 has splined thereto a sleeve 84 held against displacement as by a nut |08 threaded on the end of the shaft. The sleeve has an outwardly extended ange |08 having thereon a laterally extended flange concentrically disposed to the sleeve |04, and tted between the laterally extended flange ||8 and the hollow spindle 28 is a bearing ||2 for support of the shaft 88. The flange |08 has suitably secured thereto an element of a torque meter indicated generally at ||4.

Spaced bearings ||6 tted on the sleeve |04 support for rotation a group of pulleys ||8 connected as by belts |20 to the group of pulleys I4 on the armature shaft of the motor I2, and suitably secured to the pulleys ||8 is another element of the torque meter H4.

The torque meter ||4 includes spaced abutments |22 and |24 suitably secured to the flange |88 and extended coaxially within the pulleys ||8 intermediate corresponding spaced abutments |28 and |30 on the interior of the pulleys ||8, and arranged between the abutments on the flange |08 and the abutments on the pulleys ||8 are compression springs |32 serving to yieldingly connect the pulleys ||8 to the shaft 88 and to transmit driving force from the pulley to the shaft. A disc |34 suitably secured to the pulleys I8 has a marginal flange |36, and etched on the flange is a pointer |38. A similar disc |40 suitably secured to the flange |08 has a marginal iiange |42 oppositely disposed with relation to the marginal flange |36 on the disc |34, and a scale |44 etched on the flange |42 cooperates with the pointer to give a visual indication of the driving torque readily readable through the medium of the stroboscope |02 synchronized with the shaft 88.

'Ihe apparatus is adaptable for conducting tests on various elements, and to that end special ilxtures suitable for support of the element under test are fitted on the interior of the case 42 and on the spindle 80. As, for example, a disc |46, to undergo test, may be mounted on the spindle 80 and secured against displacementas by a retaining nut, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2; or a sleeve |48 amxed to the wall of the case may support a stationary reaction member |60 of a torque converter associated with a housing |62 supported on the spindle 80, as illustrated in Fig. '1; or the reverse of the latter test may be accomplished by mounting a drum |64 on the interior of the case and iixedly securing a reaction member |58 of a torque converter to the spindle.

It may be found desirable to conduct a test on an element to ascertain the effect of small clearances. In such instances, the case 42 is disassembled; however, the disc 44 of the case is left in position on the flange 30 of the spindle 28, and a drum |68 Fig. 6 is flxedly secured to the disc. The drum includes a'heavy flange |60 having an outwardly.extended marginal rim |62. The flange and rim are provided with internal shoulders |64 and |66, and a small opening through the rim has secured therein a bleeder screw |68.

An element indicated at |10 on which a test is to be conducted is mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith adjacent the face of the drum |58 with the desired clearance between the element and the drum. A exible sealing ring |12 is fitted on the shoulder |84, and a compression ring |14 bearing against the sealing ring is adjustably secured to the shoulder |66 as by screws |16.

A drum |18 telescopes the drum |58, and the drum |18 has a rim |80 secured to the rim |62 of the drum |58'as by spaced studs |82. The outer face of the drum |18 is spaced from the element |10y with small clearance, and suitably secured to the inner face of the drum |18 is a thimble |84 enclosing the spindle 90, and the thimble has an axial port |86 for the admission of fluid.

In a normal operation, assuming that the disc |46 is mounted on the spindle 88 of the drive shaft 88, and that the case 42 is filled with liquid to its capacity, upon energization of the motor |2, a. driving force is transmitted from the armature shaft of the motor through the pulleys |4 and belts 20 to the pulleys ||8. 'I'his results in driving the shaft 88 through the medium of the springs |32. The speed of rotation of the shaft 88 is indicated by the tachometer |00, and the torque developed due to 'resistance to rotation of the vshaft is indicated by the torque meter ||4 readily observed through .the medium of the stroboscope |02 synchronized with the shaft 88.

Upon rotation of the disc |46, the fluid in the case 42 is set in motion, and this energy of the fluid imposes a drag on the case tending to turn the same. 'I'his force is transmitted from the case through the torque arm 80 and suitable linkage to the indicating scale 86 for measuring the torque required to resist rotation of the case due to drag on the walls thereof.

During rotation of the disc, the liquid in the case 42 becomes heated and expands, and to compensate for this condition the case is suitably connected to the combined reservoir and expan# sion tank 68. It is also desirable to know the temperature of the liquid during the various stages of operation of the apparatus. d t0 that end the thermo-couple 12 mounted in he case 42 is connected to the temperature gauge 18.

With these known controlled factors, the drag imposed on the disc when rotated in various types of liquid and at different speeds may be readily ascertained. In the test illustrated in Fig. 6, the disc |10 is mounted on the spindle 88 in'an adjustable case providing for small clearance between the disc and the case. The test ls conducted in an identical inabove described.

In the test illustrated in Fig. 7, a stationary reaction member |50 or a torque converter is supported on a. fixture I secured to the inner 5 wall of the case, and a housing |52 for the reaction member having demountable blades of conventional type is mounted on the spindle 80 i'or rotation therewith. In conducting this test, it is necessary to rst run the test with the bladesA l0 of the reaction member removed, and then re-` place the blades on the reaction member, and repeat the test. The net drag of the reaction member on the housing |52 is the difference between the two runs. The test illustrated in Fig. 8 is conducted in a similar manner.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specliiicv embodiments, the principle involved is susceptible oi' numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated bythe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what we claim as new and desire 2;, to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A testing apparatus for determining frictional resistance imposed on a mass when rotated in liquid comprising a support, a hollow shaft mounted for limited rotative movement thereon, a case for the reception of liquid xedly secured to the hollow shaft, a reaction torque measuring instrument connected to the case, a shaft mounted for rotation in the hollow shaft, a speed indicating instrument connected to the shaft, a spindle on the shaft extended into they case for support of an element to undergo test,\

a torque measuring device connected between the shaft and the hollow shaft, and means for driving the shaft through the torque measuring 10 device including means for regulating the speed of rotation of the shaft.

2. A testing apparatus for determining frictional resistance imposed on a, mass when rotated in liquid comprising a` support, a case 5 mounted on the support for limited rotative movement, a-,rotatable spindle in the case for support of an element to undergo test,- a speed indicating instrument connected to the spindle, a torque measuring device connected between the so spindle and the case, power transmitting means manner to that hereror driving the spindle throush the torque meastional ristance imposed on a. mass when rotated in liquid comprising a support, a case mounted on the support for the reception of liquid having limited rotative movement, a liquid reservoir connected to the case, a thermo-couple mounted in the case and connected to a gauge for indicating the temperature or the liquid, a reaction torque measuring instrument connected to the case for indicating reaction torque thereof, a

spindle mounted for rotation in the case for support of an element to undergo test, a torque measuring device connected between the case and the spindle for indicating the torque im' posed on the element by the liquid, and means for driving the spindle through the torque measuring device, the measurements indicated by the various instruments during a test operation being correlative to determine the frictional resistance imposed on the mass.

4. A testing apparatus for determining frictional resistance imposed on a mass when rotated in liquid comprising a support, a case mounted for limited rotative movement on the support adapted to contain liquid, a. reservoir for supplying the case, a thermo-couple in the case, a gauge connected to the thermo-couple for indicating the temperature oi the liquid, a spindle mounted for rotation in the case for support of an element to be tested, a torque measuring device connected between the spindle and the case for indicating the torque imposed on the element by the liquid, a reaction torque measuring means connected to the case for measuring the torque imposed on the case by the liquid, a tachometer connected to the spindle for indicating the speed thereof, and means for driving the spindle through the torque measuring device, the measurements indicated by the various instruments during a test operation being correlative to determine the irictional resistance imposed on the mass;

JOHN FREDERICK SWIFI. RAYMOND J. MILLER. 

